A new pedestrian bridge connecting rail commuters to East Malvern Station, as well as providing local access for residents and cyclists across the Monash Freeway, was officially opened on Thursday, 20 August 2009 by Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas.
Mr Pallas, who was joined by the Member for Burwood, Bob Stensholt, and Member for Southern Metropolitan, Jennifer Huppert, said the bridge was an important connection for communities on both sides of the freeway.
Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas (centre) was joined by Member for Southern Metropolitan, Jennifer Huppert
and Member for Burwood, Bob Stensholt, for the opening of the new bridge over the Monash Freeway at East Malvern.
"This bridge was dismantled earlier in the year to widen the Monash Freeway as part of our $1.39 billion M1 upgrade. It provides excellent access to public transport and recreational facilities in the Gardiners Creek valley and is a key part of the Melbourne bicycle route network, linking three major trails used by commuting and leisure riders.
"We're proud of the final design of the bridge, which was developed to address access needs through extensive community consultation and in collaboration with Bicycle Victoria.
"Lit at night, it will create a more attractive profile over the freeway and act as a landmark for East Malvern Station," he said.
The new wider bridge has a shallower gradient than its predecessor making it easier to use for pedestrians and people with a disability, as well as offering cyclists greater manoeuvrability.
Mr Stensholt welcomed the restoration and said the crossing was very popular with rail commuters from surrounding suburbs who utilised the Glen Waverley line.
"This is a great result for the local community with the upgraded bridge to improve access for disabled and elderly passengers to station platforms from both sides of the freeway," he said. "With over 1500 patrons using the station daily, there was strong demand for the bridge to be compliant with accessibility guidelines and regulations."
Member for Burwood, Bob Stensholt, and members of local cycling groups Boroondara BUG and Whitehorse Cyclists
give the new bridge and bike trail improvements the thumbs up.
Bike path receives 'bespoke' upgrade
A second pedestrian and bicycle bridge at York Road in Glen Iris reopened to public access on 14 December.
Like its twin at East Malvern station, the old bridge was dismantled in October 2008 to enable construction of additional lanes and a bridge of improved design constructed in its place.
Coinciding with the reinstatement of the two bridges that link communities on both sides of the freeway, the M1 project team also delivered significant local improvements, including resurfacing, line-marking and installing new signage on a key section of Gardiners Creek Trail from Glen Iris to the velodrome at HA Smith Reserve in Hawthorn.
In response to community requests, part of the trail that links the York Road bridge with Elm Road and Great Valley Road, Glen Iris, has been relocated south away from the creek edge and made wider to accommodate both pedestrians and growing bicycle traffic.
A new section of bike path also has been constructed between Golfers Drive and Waverley Road, Malvern East.
These works will provide better connections along and across Gardiners Creek, to the Alamein, Darling, East Malvern, Glen Iris and Holmesglen train stations, bus stops, educational facilities, shopping centres, and to Melbourne's CBD. Over 800 cyclists regularly use this trail daily to commute into the city.
All of these improvements were determined in close consultation with local residents and community groups such as MECWACare, Bicycle Victoria and Boroondara and Stonnington Councils.
There is still work to be done on the western end of the trail. In 2010, once M1 Upgrade works on the CityLink section of the Monash Freeway are complete, Transurban will reinstate the adjoining section from the velodrome through to Glenferrie Road. In consultation with the local councils and bicycle users groups there will be further development of signage to improve way finding.
For further information, contact VicRoads on 13 11 71.